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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS35
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic ZS40, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was introduced 3 years earlier than the ZS40 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-P3 grades versus the ZS40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-P3 ZS40 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-P3

 ZS40 E-P3 
RevealedJanuary 2014August 2011More modern by 29 months
Screen resolution920k614kClearer screen (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-P3 ZS40 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 has got physical measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 against the ZS40.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and ZS40 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by going over technical specs. The pic below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and ZS40.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will offer more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
52
has manual focus
decent megapixels (18MP)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
fixed screen
69
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography highlights
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
lack of phase detect auto focus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
60
includes focus via touch
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (240g)
decent megapixels (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
56
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
supports RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging advice
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
34
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-08-17 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 300 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $450